Hybrid delivery mechanism in a multimedia transmission system

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus are provided for receiving service discovery information in a client in a hybrid delivery multimedia transmission system, the method including receiving service discovery information related to a service and comprising service type information indicating that the service is provided by a plurality of channels including a first channel of a first network and a second channel of a second network, the second channel being different from the first channel, in a plurality of networks including the first network and the second network, different from the first network, and parsing the service type information.

PRIORITY

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/704,523, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office onDec. 14, 2012 as a National Phase Entry of PCT International ApplicationNo. PCT/KR2011/004362, which was filed on Jun. 14, 2011, and claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/354,473, whichwas filed in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on Jun. 14, 2010, thecontents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a multimedia transmissionsystem, and more particularly, to a hybrid delivery mechanism in amultimedia transmission system.

2. Description of the Related Art

An International Organization for Standardization (ISO) base file formathas been proposed by the ISO/International Electrotechnical CommissionISO/IEC 14496-12 as a standard file format to be used for multimediaservices. Having a flexible and extensible file structure, the ISO basefile format is the basis of various multimedia file formats. The ISObase file format is designed to have an object-oriented structure so asto include various types of media resources and metadata, as astandardized file structure for packaging media resources and metadata.For example, the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) 2000, and 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) file formats are made based on theISO base file format, and the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-4 fileformat is also an extension of the ISO base file format.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional format of an ISO base file.

The information and functions necessary for playing a plurality of mediacontents together are created as an object-based box. That is, the ISObase file is structured as a sequence of objects, some of whichcontaining other objects. The sequence of objects in the ISO base filemay contain a presentation metadata wrapper (a Movie Box), and the ISObase file contains one presentation metadata.

In FIG. 1, an ISO base file 101 includes a movie box ‘moov’ box 103 anda media data box ‘mdat’ box 105.

The ‘moov’ box 103 stores temporal and spatial position information andcodec information for the media data stored in the media data box 105,and the ‘moov’ box's sub-boxes define the metadata for a presentation.

The ‘mdat’ box 105 contains the actual media data for a presentation.That is, the ‘mdat’ box 105 stores media data (or a media stream) suchas video and audio.

In the ‘moov’ box 103, tracks ‘trak’ 107 (video, 109 (audio), and 111(hint) include a timed sequence of related samples in the ISO base mediafile. The ‘trak’ 107 includes information about audio data, while ‘trak’109 includes information about video data and ‘trak’ 111 includesinformation for a streaming service.

However, the conventional art suffers from the lack of a hybrid deliverymechanism for client and server.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides hybrid deliverymechanism based on a file format in a multimedia transmission system.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for receivingservice discovery information in a client in a hybrid deliverymultimedia transmission system includes receiving service discoveryinformation related to a service and comprising service type informationindicating that the service is provided by a plurality of channelsincluding a first channel of a first network and a second channel of asecond network, the second channel being different from the firstchannel, in a plurality of networks including the first network and thesecond network, different from the first network, and parsing theservice type information, wherein one or more first service componentsof the service are transmitted to the client over the first channel ofthe first network and one or more second service components which aredifferent from the one or more first service components, are transmittedto the client over the second channel of the second network, wherein theservice discovery information further comprises relation informationindicating a relationship between content of the one or more firstservice components and content of the one or more second servicecomponents, and network and address information for accessing the one ormore first service components and the one or more second servicecomponents, wherein the first network is a broadcast network and thesecond network is a telecommunication network, wherein the network andaddress information for accessing the one or more first servicecomponents includes information about a frequency, an Internet protocol(IP) platform, and a first IP address, and wherein the network andaddress information for accessing the one or more second servicecomponents includes a uniform resource locator and a second IP address.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a client apparatusfor receiving service discovery information in a hybrid deliverymultimedia transmission system includes a receiver configured to receiveservice discovery information related to a service and comprisingservice type information indicating that the service is provided by aplurality of channels including a first channel of a first network and asecond channel of a second network, the second channel being differentfrom the first channel, in a plurality of networks including the firstnetwork and the second network, different from the first network, and aparser configured to parse the service type information, wherein one ormore first service components of the service are transmitted to theclient over the first channel of the first network and one or moresecond service components which are different from the one or more firstservice components are transmitted to the client over the second channelof the second network, wherein the service discovery information furthercomprises relation information indicating a relationship between contentof the one or more first service components and content of the one ormore second service components, and network and address information foraccessing the one or more first service components and the one or moresecond service components, wherein the first network is a broadcastnetwork and the second network is a telecommunication network, whereinthe network and address information for accessing the one or more firstservice components includes information about a frequency, an Internetprotocol (IP) platform, and a first IP address, and wherein the networkand address information for accessing the one or more second servicecomponents includes a uniform resource locator and a second IP address.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will be more clearly understood from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates the conventional format of an ISO base file;

FIG. 2 illustrates a hybrid delivery system;

FIG. 3 illustrates a process of accessing service by a client withouthybrid indication in a multimedia transmission system, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a process of accessing service by a client withhybrid indication a multimedia transmission system, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 describes a synchronization problem in hybrid delivery, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 describes a solution to the synchronization problem in hybriddelivery, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an acquisition example in hybrid delivery, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a service discovery entity in a TLV (Type LengthValue) packet, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a process of accessing service by a client, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a process of providing service discovery informationby a server, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a structure of a client in a multimedia transmissionsystem, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a structure of a server in a multimedia transmissionsystem, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a structure of a service discovery entity for hybriddelivery, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar componentsmay be designated by the same or similar reference numerals althoughthey are illustrated in different drawings. Detailed descriptions ofconstructions or processes known in the art may be omitted for the sakeof clarity and conciseness.

In the hybrid delivery system illustrated in FIG. 2, content may bedelivered over a hybrid network. That is, some components may bedelivered over broadcast network and some components may be deliveredover telecommunication network. Different networks have their ownadvantages and limitations, e.g. a broadcast network could serve manyviewers (i.e., p-t-m) simultaneously and stably, but only in aunidirectional transmission. Telecommunications could satisfy a specialrequest (i.e., p-t-p) from some users based on a bidirectional network,but may incur congestion problems.

The hybrid network according to an embodiment of the present inventionprovides services with the advantages of both networks (broadcast andtelecommunication networks), and discloses the mechanism to supporthybrid content delivery.

Hybrid Delivery Indication

In a hybrid delivery system, a client 205 may receive a service fromdifferent delivery paths, such as one component from broadcast network201, and another from telecommunication network 203. The client shouldcombine these components and then consumes the service. In the presentinvention, the term ‘hybrid delivery’ and ‘hybrid delivery mechanism’refer to a method or system for providing multimedia service componentvia different networks (or delivery paths).

The hybrid delivery may not be supported by every client, and someclients may not desire the hybrid delivery because of high costs and acomplicated process of the hybrid delivery. For this purpose, a clientshould easily and quickly know whether the service type is hybrid.

Based on the current mechanism, a client's procedure for accessing aservice is illustrated in FIG. 3, which illustrates a process ofaccessing service by a client without hybrid indication in a multimediatransmission system, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

A client receives service discovery information (e.g., a servicediscovery entity) from service provider (or server) via various networksin step 301. A service discovery entity is used to describe an availableservice and its access information. Specific features about the servicediscovery entity will be described in FIG. 13, and a detailed structureof the service discovery entity will be discussed later in the presentdisclosure.

The Client parses a services fragment and selects an interest service instep 303. The Client checks a component fragment and an acquisitionfragment of the selected service in step 305, and determines that theinterest service is hybrid service because the different components ofthe interest service have a different acquisition channel in step 305.That is, the Client could not decide whether the interest service ishybrid when the client chooses the interest service from the servicefragment. Only after the client parses all components belonging to thisinterest service and their acquisition fragment, may the client knowthat the interest service is a hybrid delivery case.

The client determines whether the client may support the hybrid deliveryservice and would like to access the hybrid service in step 307. If theclient does not support the hybrid delivery service and the client wouldnot like to access the service, the client determines whether the clientwould like to select another service again in step 309. Depending on thedetermination, the client will give up or select the service again.However, time has been lost and costs have already been incurred beforedetermining the type of the interest service. On the other hand, if theclient support hybrid delivery or the client would like to access suchservice 307, the client starts to access the interest service in step311.

Hybrid Signaling in ServiceType

a ‘Hybrid’ type may be specified in the ServiceType 1307 as shown in thefollowing Table 1. The ServiceType could signal whether a service isfrom one channel, from different channels within one type of network, oreven different channels of different type of networks. Selectively, theServiceType may be an attribute of metadata, or a field of any datastructure.

TABLE 1 Type Description 1 From one delivery channel 2 From differentchannels in one type of network, e.g. from two channels of a broadcastnetwork. 2.1 The service/component from another channel of the samenetwork is mandatory for the currently described service. 2.2 Theservice/component from another channel of the same type of network isnot mandatory for the currently described service. 3 From differentchannels in different type of networks, e.g. one is from broadcast, andanother is from telecommunication. 3.1 The service/component fromanother channel of the different network is mandatory for the currentlydescribed service. 3.2 The service/component from another channel of thedifferent type of network is not mandatory for the currently describedservice. Other Reserved for other types used in the future.

A service fragment 1301 could be sent more frequently than other serviceinformation to the client, so the client could more quickly parse andchoose the service.

Based on this new signaling, a client's accessing service processaccording to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 4.

A client receives a service discovery entity from the service providervia various networks in step 301. When the client parses servicefragment 1301 in step 401, the client already could know whether theservice is a hybrid service based on the ServiceType. That is, theclient doesn't need to parse component and acquisition information forrecognizing that the service is hybrid. Thus, signaling by using theServiceType within a service fragment is a shortcut for the client tomake the decision.

In FIG. 4, one or more steps may be omitted while implementingembodiments of the present invention.

Service/Component Relationship Signaling

Different hybrid scenarios and use cases are required in the market,which necessitates service/component relationship signaling forsupporting the hybrid delivery.

For example, one service is a football game provided by one operator(i.e., service provider), and another service is the introduction of theteam members in the football game provided by some other users. Theclient does not know that these two services could be combined toreceive rich information without signaling for relationship between thetwo services.

In another example, one service is a world-wide travel program, andanother service is a local advertisement program (e.g., foodintroduction or restaurant information that is related to a region inthe travel program) provided by local service providers. If the clientcould know the relationship of these two services in advance, the clientcould choose both of the services. In this case, the advertisementinformation will appear in the client's screen when the related regionis shown in the travel program.

For satisfying various hybrid use case requirements, theservicerelationship 1309/component relationship 1345 is disclosed forsignaling, as shown in FIG. 13 which illustrates a structure of aservice discovery entity for hybrid delivery, according to an embodimentof the present invention.

In the hybrid case, the relationship among service/component may besignaled.

*59RelatedServiceID 1311/RelatedComponentID 1347 indicates whichservice/component is related.

RelationshipType 1313 is a signal indicating the possible types ofrelationships. The following are examples of values of theRelationshipType.

1) Mandatory indicates the referred channel is mandatory for thisservice. For example, video is in service1/component1 and audio is inservice2/component2, and both services/components should be needed toconsume a complete service.

2) Alternative indicates the referred service/component could be thealternative choice for the described service. For example, service 1 isBBC news video and audio in English, and service2 is BBC news audio inFrench. The client could choose the service 1 only, or combine the videoin the service 1 and audio in the service2. The details about eachservice (i.e., service1 and service2) could be signaled inServiceDescription 1303 and ServiceLanguage 1305.

3) Complementary indicates that the referred service/component could bethe complementary for the described service/component. For example, auser (or a client) is watching a foreign language movie with a basicsubtitle via a broadcast channel from a service provider, but the usermay require Subtitling for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing (SDH) subtitle. Inthis case, the user will send a request to receive an SDH subtitle forthis movie to the service provider (or other service provider) using atelecommunication channel (or the broadband channel). The network sendsthe requested SDH subtitle to the user's terminal device over thebroadband channel (or the telecommunication channel). The terminaldevice then replaces the basic subtitle of the movie with the SDHsubtitle and displays it to the user to allow the user to enjoy themovie.

4) Optional indicates the referred service/component is optional whenthe client access the described service (e.g., a local advertisement fora travel program).

A serviceRelationship 1309 may be signaled in the service fragment 1301,and a componentRelationship 1345 may be signaled in the componentfragment 1341. The detailed description for each service/component couldalso be signaled ServiceDescription 1303/componentDescription 1343, suchas bitrate, resolution, quality and language. This description will helpthe client to choose an expected one of these parameters.

Synchronization

A synchronization problem is a key problem in a hybrid deliverymechanism. As an example in FIG. 5, which describes a synchronizationproblem in hybrid delivery, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, different files are delivered in different channels, e.g. onein a broadcast channel and another in a telecommunication channel Two ormore tracks (or ‘trak's) 501, and 503 inside one file 511 could besynchronized based on a decoding time, composition time, and edit listin the ‘moov’ box. However, it is not known how to synchronize the twoor more tracks (or ‘trak's) 501, and 505 sent in two or more differentfiles 511, and 513 is also unknown.

The relative time difference between files (i.e., ISO files) in thehybrid delivery should be signaled, as in FIG. 6, which describes asolution to the synchronization problem in hybrid delivery, according toan embodiment of the present invention.

A relative time difference T 601 between file1 511 and file2 513 isindicated. Based on the relative time difference T, the client couldknow how to synchronize the tracks (or ‘trak's) 501, and 505 withinthese two files 511, and 513. Information required for indicating therelative time difference T is described as shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Field Description FileID File identifier that has a referencefile from another channel Referred fileID The referred file identifier TThe relative time difference between the file and referred file

Referring again to FIG. 13, the information indicating the relative timedifference T may be included (or recorded) in a service discovery entity1300, e.g. schedule fragment 1301, or in the media level, e.g. moov box.For example, the schedule fragment 1321 may include theSynchronizationInfo 1323 or RelativeTimeDifference (T) 1325.

Acquisition Information

FIG. 7 illustrates an acquisition example in hybrid delivery, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. Because eachservice/component may come from totally different channels or networks,acquisition information (e.g., acquisition fragment 701) may besignaled.

In the acquisition fragment 701, an access network and address for eachchannel in the hybrid case could be signaled.

Network type 703 of channel1 is broadcast, and network type 707 ofchannel2 is telecommunication. Thus, a client 700 could start to receivethe correct entity from each channel, i.e. TLV (Type Length Value)packet 713, and IP (Internet protocol) packet 715 from the broadcastchannel, and telecommunication channel, respectively. In the broadcastnetwork, at least one of the frequency, IP platform, and IP address 705may be signaled. In the telecommunication network, at least one of URL(Uniform Resource Locator), offset, and IP address 709 may need to besignaled.

Define New Tag Value For Service Discovery in TLV Protocol

A service provider may use TLV protocol for providing services in ahybrid delivery system. For example, the NHK (a Japan BroadcastingCorporation) has disclosed using the TLV protocol in a hybrid deliverysystem. Since hybrid service information is carried in a servicediscovery entity, it is important for a client to find and parse theservice discovery entity. The missing criteria is how to signal theservice discovery entity based on TLV protocol.

FIG. 8 illustrates a service discovery entity in TLV packet, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

Some specific TLV packet 801, and 807 could be used for servicediscovery, and other packets could be used for media data file 803, and809, and transmission control signal 805. A specific tag and value fordifferent types of packets are defined in Table 3, as follows.

TABLE 3 Tag Value Type 10 Service Discovery

A tag value ‘10’ is reserved (or defined) for service discovery.Otherwise, any other tag value may be reserved (or defined) for theservice discovery.

Client/Server Procedure

FIG. 9 illustrates a process of accessing service by a client, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

A client receives a broadcast signal and checks a tag value to findservice discovery information (e.g., a service discovery entity 1300) inTLV packets in the received broadcast signal in step 901. Selectively,the client could access the service discovery information from one oftelecommunication network, broadband network, and other p-t-p networksin step 903.

After receiving service discovery information, the client parses servicefragment 1301 and checks ServiceType to know whether an interest serviceis hybrid service in step 905.

If the service is hybrid service, the client determines whether theclient could support the service and desires to access the service instep 907.

Based on the determining in step 907, if the client could not supportthe service and does not desire to access the service, the clientfurther determines where the client would like to choose another servicein step 909.

Depending on the determining in step 909, the client will choose anotherservice to access by returning to step 905; otherwise, the client willstop parsing the service fragment.

Based on the determining in step 907, if the client could support theservice or desires to access the service, the client may check theServiceRelationship/ComponentRelationship to find the related service inthe other channels, and check their relationship in step 911. Based ontheir relationship, the client could choose the relevantservices/components in step 911.

By parsing synchronization information between files from differentchannels, the client could know how to synchronize the files fromdifferent channels in step 913. The synchronization information may beincluded in a schedule fragment 1321 of the received service discoveryentity.

Based on acquisition information (e.g., a acquisition fragment 701), theclient could know access information of each service/component fromdifferent channels/networks and access the service/component in step915.

In the procedure illustrated in FIG. 9, one or more steps may beomitted.

In this procedure, information related to the hybrid delivery is carriedin the service discovery entity 1300. The information related to thehybrid delivery could also be carried in a media level.

FIG. 10 illustrates a process of providing service discovery informationby a server, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The server will collect service information that is related to a serviceto be provided in step 1001.

If the service is hybrid service, the server will set a value ofServiceType to indicate that the service is hybrid in step 1003.

Based on use cases, the server indicates their relationship betweenservices and/or components by ServiceRelationship/ComponentRelationshipin step 1005.

The server sets a value of synchronization information between files instep 1007. The synchronization information may be a relative timedifference T and may be included in a schedule fragment 1321.

The server sets values for access information e.g. network information,and address information in step 1009.

When service discovery information is transmitted in broadcast channelusing TLV packet, the server sets a tag value for the service discoveryinformation in step 1011.

Then the server will provide this information and media-related file toone or more clients in step 1013.

In the procedure illustrated in FIG. 10, one or more steps may beomitted.

Client/Server Structure

FIG. 11 illustrates a structure of a client apparatus in a multimediatransmission system, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The client apparatus may include one or more entities, such as a servicediscovery parser 1101, file parser 1103, and decoder 1105. The servicediscovery parser 1101 will parse service discovery metadata (e.g.service discovery entity), and choose the service for accessing. Hybridrelated signaling is carried in the service discovery metadata, and themedia data and related information is processed in the file parser 1103,and decoder 1105 for playing. The file parser 1103 parses the mediadata, and the decoder 1105 decodes the media data the decoded media data(file). The client apparatus may further include a receiver (not shown)for receiving data from a server.

FIG. 12 illustrates a structure of a server apparatus in a multimediatransmission system, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The server apparatus may include one or more entities, such as servicedata 1201, service discovery generator 1203, and file generator 1205.The service data 1201 may be memory or data storage for raw data to beprovided as a media service. Based on the service data 1201, the serverdiscovery generator 1203 generates service discovery metadata to betransmitted to one or more clients. The file generator 1205 generatesone or more files to be transmitted to the clients. The files have mediadata and its related presentation information. The server apparatus mayfurther include a transmitter for transmitting data to one or moreclients.

Reference will now be made again to FIG. 13, which illustrates anexample when new signaling according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is carried in a service discovery level.

In this example, two services, service1 1302, and service2 1315 aredelivered in different channels, broadcast and telecommunication,respectively. Thus, the services are in the hybrid delivery mechanism.

The relationship between service1 and service2 is indicated inServiceType 1037. Their component fragment 1341, schedule fragment 1321,synchronizationinfo 1325 are also given. The services 1302, and 1315could have different purchase information if they are independentlyprovided. Their network information 703, and 707, and addressinformation 705, and 709 could be found in an acquisition fragment 701,as shown in FIG. 7.

In FIG. 13, two services are delivered in different channels. It couldalso be possible that two components within one service are delivered indifferent channels. The service is then set as hybrid service, and therelationship between components is signaled in the component level, suchas ComponentRelationship 1345, and RelatedComponent 1347.

The above-described embodiments of the invention may be embodied ashardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Softwaremay be stored in a volatile or non-volatile storage device such as ReadOnly Memory (ROM) and the like irrespective of erasing or rewriting, amemory such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), a memory chip, a device,and a integrated circuit, or a storage medium that is capable ofperforming optical or magnetic recording and machine-reading such asCompact Disc (CD), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), optical disc, andmagnetic tape. A memory may be an example of machine-readable storagemedia that are suitable for storing a program including instructions toimplement the embodiments, or programs. Therefore, the invention mayinclude a program including a code to implement an apparatus or a methodclaimed in a claim of the specification, and a machine-readable storagemedium including the program, for example, a computer-readable storagemedium. The program may be transferred electronically through a mediumsuch as a communication signal transferred through a wired or wirelessconnection, and the invention may appropriately include an equivalentmedium.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for receiving service discoveryinformation in a client in a hybrid delivery multimedia transmissionsystem, comprising: receiving service discovery information related to aservice and comprising service type information indicating that theservice is provided by a plurality of channels including a first channelof a first network and a second channel of a second network, the secondchannel being different from the first channel, in a plurality ofnetworks including the first network and the second network, differentfrom the first network; and parsing the service type information,wherein one or more first service components of the service aretransmitted to the client over the first channel of the first networkand one or more second service components which are different from theone or more first service components, are transmitted to the client overthe second channel of the second network, wherein the service discoveryinformation further comprises relation information indicating arelationship between content of the one or more first service componentsand content of the one or more second service components, and networkand address information for accessing the one or more first servicecomponents and the one or more second service components, wherein thefirst network is a broadcast network and the second network is atelecommunication network, wherein the network and address informationfor accessing the one or more first service components includesinformation about a frequency, an Internet protocol (IP) platform, and afirst IP address, and wherein the network and address information foraccessing the one or more second service components includes a uniformresource locator and a second IP address.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the service type information is signaled in a service fragmentof the service discovery information.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe service discovery information further comprises synchronizationinformation for synchronizing the one or more first service componentswith the one or more second service components.
 4. The method of claim3, wherein the synchronization information is a relative time differencebetween the one or more first service components and the one or moresecond service components.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein a tag valuefor the service discovery information is set in a Type Length Value(TLV) packet, and wherein the service discovery information is includedin the TLV packet.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the relationinformation is one of mandatory, alternative, complementary, andoptional.
 7. A client apparatus for receiving service discoveryinformation in a hybrid delivery multimedia transmission system,comprising: a receiver configured to receive service discoveryinformation related to a service and comprising service type informationindicating that the service is provided by a plurality of channelsincluding a first channel of a first network and a second channel of asecond network, the second channel being different from the firstchannel, in a plurality of networks including the first network and thesecond network, different from the first network; and a parserconfigured to parse the service type information, wherein one or morefirst service components of the service are transmitted to the clientover the first channel of the first network and one or more secondservice components which are different from the one or more firstservice components are transmitted to the client over the second channelof the second network, wherein the service discovery information furthercomprises relation information indicating a relationship between contentof the one or more first service components and content of the one ormore second service components, and network and address information foraccessing the one or more first service components and the one or moresecond service components, wherein the first network is a broadcastnetwork and the second network is a telecommunication network, whereinthe network and address information for accessing the one or more firstservice components includes information about a frequency, an Internetprotocol (IP) platform, and a first IP address, and wherein the networkand address information for accessing the one or more second servicecomponents includes a uniform resource locator and a second IP address.8. The client apparatus of claim 7, wherein the service type informationis signaled in a service fragment of the service discovery information.9. The client apparatus of claim 7, wherein the service discoveryinformation further comprises synchronization information forsynchronizing the one or more first service components with the one ormore second service components.
 10. The client apparatus of claim 9,wherein the synchronization information is a relative time differencebetween the one or more first service components and the one or moresecond service components.
 11. The client apparatus of claim 7, whereina tag value for the service discovery information is set in a TypeLength Value (TLV) packet, and wherein the service discovery informationis included in the TLV packet.
 12. The client apparatus of claim 7,wherein the relation information is one of mandatory, alternative,complementary, and optional.